Friendship and Contemplation: An Exploration of Two Forces Propelling the Transcendent Hope and Power of the Liberal Arts

Abstract

The liberal arts do not exist in a vacuum abstracted from teachers and students who with their very lives seek knowledge, love, and wholeness. The transcendent hope and power of the liberal arts come to life precisely within communities of learners. This paper proposes a vision for Catholic higher education driven fundamentally by friendship and contemplation. Beginning with Aristotle's treatment of these themes and moving through the contributions of Augustine and Thomas, this paper explores Christian notions of friendship and contemplation and how their presence within a Catholic university can serve as an occasion of grace for the activation of the transcendent hope and power of the liberal arts.